The city is taking another step closer in shaking up the local taxi services by renewing calls for public complaints to be reported directly to the city’s website.

The announcement comes a week after taxi brokers were angered by the city’s decision to issue licences with conditions, including tracking cabs with GPS, to drivers instead of bosses.

The city is now calling for passengers to share compliments or complaints by posting on calgary.ca.

“Receive outstanding service from a taxi driver? Trouble getting through to dispatch? Fare dispute? Concerned about the condition or safety of a cab?” the city is asking.

Passengers can use desktop or smart phones to search the city’s website for “taxi compliments” or “taxi concerns” to fill out the online form.

Up to five photographs can be posted to back-up complaints.

On average, taxi inspectors and officials issue about 1,900 warnings and 60 summons, and conduct around 40 licence review hearings a year.

There are about 500 complaints made each year.

Tensions erupted last week when the city announced changes to how the taxi business regulates itself.

The city approved 55 new taxi licenses, but they go to drivers, not brokers. The licenses come with conditions that the cabs must be accessible and available to the public Friday and Saturday nights until 4 a.m.

There will be stiff penalties for those who don’t comply.

The cabs must also be outfitted with GPS to keep track of their whereabouts as the city evaluates how well taxis are serving the city.

The city will also hire two additional taxi inspectors and a data analyst to monitor compliance.

The move means the city will have access to data and won’t be relying on anecdotes from drivers, dispatchers, brokers and the public.

That isn’t sitting well with brokers, who say the city is opting for too much control.

szickefoose@calgaryherald.com

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